Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 632 - 631: The Devil is in the Details

Chapter 632: Chapter 631: The Devil is in the Details

"Agar," in essence, is a natural plant-based edible gel.

Although Xia Yu had limited contact with this ingredient, his current culinary knowledge still allowed him to understand the properties and uses of "agar."

Jelly and ice cream are inseparable from it.

Soft candies and desserts similar to "Water Xinxuan Cake" cannot do without it either.

"High-quality agar is bright white, highly transparent, and very elastic..." a voice from behind said, Jintan Shun’s expression was that of an Ingredient Hunter who had found a treasure, intently focusing on the crystal-like traditional delicacy on the screen.

"This, this appearance is too exquisite, what seaweed did she use to make the fantastical ’agar’?" Jintan Shun murmured.

This point was also being discussed among many chefs in the contest venue, even Xia Yu felt itchy with curiosity.

But, as Nuliang said, this type of "agar" is the female protagonist’s secret weapon and would not be easily revealed.

"’Agar’ aside, the key is..." Nuliang pointed at the cherry blossom inside the crystal, with the camera giving it a close-up at just the right moment.

Seeing this, the nearly invisible Female Qilin Chef, Indira, rarely spoke to explain: "Common knowledge dictates that the cherry blossoms used in Water Xinxuan Cake are salted, and they must be soaked prior to use to remove excess saltiness. However, the cherry blossoms used in the collaborative creation with Chef Reiko were mixed with water using crushed spices such as clove, star anise, angelica dahurica, mustard seeds, and cardamom."

The judges instantly realized.

"No wonder!"

On stage, Xia Yu, familiar with the spice formula, couldn’t help but show a surprised expression. This was somewhat similar to the "bee hive" Indira had shown him before, which he had even tried to modify.

Looking intently, Xia Yu’s expression shook, his gaze fixed on the green leaves at the bottom of the bowl, "This is right!"

The third judge wearing a conical hat, picked up the leaf from the bottom of the bowl and brought it close to his nose to sniff, "What is this spice leaf?"

The female protagonist, Indira, simultaneously looked up, glancing at the young man in the guest seats.

"Indira Moon Orange!" Reiko answered.

"Oh!"

A sound resonated throughout the venue.

"This is an essential part of creating a world of spices!" Nuliang praised, "The ingredients reveal the craftsmanship; the chefs have personally constructed a fantastical dish with their own hands!"

Details!

The audience realized that the dishes from the two competing teams were horrendous in their attention to detail.

Qiushan Hong and Shinohara Shigetaro’s "Teriyaki Chicken Cutlet Rice" might seem simple, but the chicken meat and teriyaki sauce were full of highlights.

Indira and Liangzi Lina’s "Sakura Water Mochi", on the other hand, took details to a level of beauty and fantasy, with the fantastical ’agar’ being the main component of the dessert, and the cherry blossom leaves inside flavored with dozens of spices...

"Amazing! The accumulation of details is breathtaking!"

In front of the TV, a group from Polar Star Dormitory admired the two female lead chefs in the scene, while in the kitchen of the Tiqie Mansion, Eriina looked up and gazed at Liangzi Lina with respect, clenching her delicate little fist, "I also need to quickly become stronger!"

Not only was the audience outside amazed, but the competing teams on the stage frequently glanced sideways.

"Indira is known as the Spice Empress of India, her mastery of spices is indeed terrifying..." Yan Mo, Re, and Lan Chuhai, these giants from the Chinese Realm, along with Li Han, Tang Yuqiong, and Wu Yingying, these newcomer special chefs, were all focusing on the female protagonist, rather than the Qilin Chef.

"This person is also extremely close to becoming a Qilin, right?"

They thought.

Zhu Qing, arms crossed inside Cooking Station No. 1, asked Saito Chiyokuro, "Saito, where would this woman rank among the special chefs in your Japanese Food Industry?"

"You’re talking about Reiko? Definitely in the top ten..."

Saito Chiyokuro smiled.

"Then, please give a score!" At that moment, Kogawa Shinyiro’s words turned the contest venue deathly silent.

How many points?

Hearing the judges’ lavish praise, surely it was exceptional!

Beep!

Not allowing the audience to ponder any longer, the scoreboard displayed the final score for "Sakura Water Mochi"—

points.

"Eh? What!"

"How could it only be 5 points higher than the last group’s dish! That’s unreasonable!"

"Right, it should be at least 90!"

Suddenly, the questioning voices filled the venue.

The Chief Judge Nuliang looked at Reiko Liangzi, who kept a calm expression, "You know what the problem is, right?"

The female protagonist whispered softly, "The ’sense’ is lacking."

"Yes, you all put a lot of effort into your work. Chef Indira used spices to structure the Water Xinxuan Cake, giving it myriad flavors, not just bluntly stuffing it with some food sense. But the food sense that matches these flavors is too diluted, incomparable. In this case, the dreamy colors of the dish are too intense, which doesn’t quite fit the theme ’Supreme goodness is like water.’"

"That’s right!" the female protagonist finally showed a bitter smile on her face, "This is the best collaboration Chef Indira and I could think of—me providing the food sense and her constructing the world of spices..."

"You’ve indeed put a lot of effort into it!"

Nuliang concluded with just one sentence, not saying much else.

The venue was silent as people watched the female protagonist and Indira leave the stage, still not recovered from the dreamy Water Xinxuan Cake.

Suddenly, a round of applause erupted. The female protagonist paused slightly and turned her head to look at the young man who was the first to stand and clap in the VIP seats, a faint smile in her eyes.

"Amazing!" Xia Yu shouted.

"I wonder if this score will get us into the finals..."

The audience also offered enthusiastic applause following Xia Yu, sparking discussions.

"What about the third team, hurry up and present your dish!"

Someone shouted.

Who’s next?

Among the 8 competing teams in the field, they looked at each other.

"Let’s go!"

Zhu Qing brought over several large trays, set them on the table, and placed large bowls on the trays. She then took a ladle from a pot, each ladle containing equal portions of ramen.

Quickly filling 5 bowls, Saito Chiyokuro also held a large ladle to pour in the broth, placing previously prepared side dishes on top, completing the 5 bowls of ramen.

Both carried the trays forward.

As the audience and cameras focused on Zhu Qing and Saito Chiyokuro, Lin Giant Lei Zhe struggled internally, raising his hand wanting to call his Female Special Chef partner to serve the dish, but opened his mouth and instead said, "Wait a moment! Food Dominator’s dish is better suited for a later spot!"

"A later position benefits Food Dominator’s performance! Wait and see how I crush their food sense ambiance!" he said with a cruel smile at the corner of his mouth.

At a nearby cooking station, Desani and his daughter Elizabeth had a similar conversation.

"With the current situation, we should aim for a later position!"

Bang! Bang!

Two large trays landed on the judges’ table, the sound echoing in the gradually quieting venue.

"Ramen?"

The judge looked down, clearly not fully awake from the delicate, dreamy Sakura Water Mochi, his eyes showing a trace of indifference, no sign of interest.

"This is our collaborative special, aromatic ramen!" Zhu Qing said as she moved a bowl of ramen from the tray, hands on her hips and lifting her fair, round chin slightly, her whole demeanor confident and spirited.

"Ramen, it’s too common!"

The second judge with red hair leaned back, seeming not inclined to taste it.

"The smell of the broth seems like it’s made from seafood, rich in flavor yet not greasy, huh, such a mild fragrance despite such a dense color..." The third monk judge’s eyes and eyebrows twitched.

"Want to taste?"

The monk judge hesitated slightly but still took the chopsticks handed over by Saito Chiyokuro.

Sss—

Slurp—

Slurp slurp—

Then came a series of unstoppable sucking and chewing sounds.

The monk judge’s face was sweaty, his expression one of surprise:

"It’s so rich in flavor, yet why can it be eaten so easily and naturally, delighting the palate to no end..."